By Elise-Marie Steenkamp In a career that spanned more than five decades, horticulturist Buks Nel, wondered about many things in life…and more specifically about apple trees. He has solved many plant riddles, made new discoveries (including his now-famous Bigbucks apple…
The full story — from orchard to shelf You pick up a bag of apples at your local supermarket, glance at the price, and think: seriously? It’s just fruit. But that reaction overlooks a surprisingly complex story that begins months…
From early on in her life, the odds were not necessarily in Elize Lambrechts Boer’s favour. But she refused to let it get to her. She never accepted her situation as fate. She looked life square in the eyes and…
By Jacques du Preez A second black swan event in two years and the impact thereof was completely unforeseen, dramatic, and severe. The industry was faced with fruit in transit prior to the war starting as well as further shipments…
In this column about the history of apple varieties in South Africa, we will investigate and explore why some varieties succeed and others disappear. The column will consist of extracts taken from a book by Henk Griessel and Buks Nel,…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp Before she blew out her first birthday candle, Faith Nogemane’s life story is straight from a Hollywood script. She was born, 25 years ago as the last of her mother, Ellie’s six children – who at that…
Provar was established in 2013 as a cultivar development and support company, with a focus on independent, objective, and scientific evaluation and data management; in order to ensure complete independence and facilitating buy-in of potential clients. In 2015 Hortgro Pome,…
Based on remarks by political economist Ronak Gopaldas at the Hortforum meeting, March 2026 By Elise-Marie Steenkamp Three weeks into the war in Iran, the world is grappling with a conflict that is far more complex — and potentially far…
The story of Miss Kathleen Murray, agricultural pioneer and a woman ahead of her time, reminds us that the power of a woman with skill, determination, and kindness is not to be underestimated in this “man’s world” industry. By Grethe…
In any given set-up, organisation, team or business, different threads connect all the right dots, making it work splendidly. At the farm Laastedrif, at the top of Bo-Swaarmoed in the Witzenberg District, one of these threads was woven by a…
Focus on women in agriculture: Thembi Xaba – Newly appointed CEO of the Deciduous Fruit Development Chamber She’s a golfer, who is still learning scuba-diving and speaks eight languages. This mother of a baby boy is studying towards her Ph.D…
Saul Lintnaar from the Graaff Fruit Farm, Lushof, was a finalist at the Deciduous Fruit Industry Gala Awards 2019 in the category “Advanced Agricultural Worker”. Although he didn’t win this one, he has many awards under his belt. However, awards…